Method and apparatus for managing the delivery of mail items

ABSTRACT

A mailer provides a new way of securing the delivery of letters, packages, parcels, and/or other items of mail through the U.S. Postal Service. The mailer includes a container and a spacer attached to an inner surface of the container. The container is designed to hold items of mail having an aggregate thickness less than a minimum thickness required to qualify as a First Class Mail parcel. The spacer has a predetermined thickness which causes the first and second sheets of the container to expand to a thickness which equals or exceeds the minimum thickness required to qualify as a First Class Mail parcel. The mailer therefore allows otherwise unqualified mail items to be sent as First Class or special services mail.

This application is a Continuation Application of U.S. application Ser.No. 11/168,764 filed Jun. 29, 2005, the disclosure of which is hereinincorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

This invention generally relates to managing the delivery of letters,packages, parcels, and/or other items of mail through the U.S. PostalService.

2. Description of the Related Art

First Class Mail has proven to be the preferred type of mail for manypostal customers. On average, it will take about three days for a FirstClass letter to be delivered. This is an acceptable period of time formost purposes. First Class Mail is also more private than other classesof mail. Consequently, invoices, financial statements, personal data,and confidential information is routinely delivered First Class. Postoffices also give this type of mail preferential treatment, for example,by providing forwarding and return services for letters sent to wrong ormoved addresses at no charge.

The U.S. Postal Service also offers customers several “special services”for mail that qualifies as First Class. These services include DeliveryConfirmation and Signature Confirmation. The Delivery Confirmationservice provides the sender with information about the date and time anitem was delivered and, if delivery was attempted but unsuccessful, thedate and time of the delivery attempt. The Signature Confirmationservice provides the sender with the same information as the DeliveryConfirmation service, and additionally keeps a record of eachrecipient's signature which is available upon request.

Some types of mail are unable to qualify as First Class or specialservices mail, mainly because their packaging does not meet specifiedsize requirements. This type of mail includes but is not limited tovarious types of legal papers such as subpoenas and service of process,both of which would benefit greatly from the speed First Class servicecan provide and the assurance delivery and signature confirmationservices can provide. Unfortunately, senders of this type of mail mustresort to private carriers which charge significantly higher rates thanany of the aforementioned services provided by the U.S. Postal service.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An objective of the present invention is to provide a new way ofsecuring the delivery of letters, packages, parcels, and/or other itemsof mail through the U.S. Postal Service.

Another objective of the present invention is to secure that deliverythrough the use of a container which allows otherwise unqualified mailto meet the requirements of First Class and/or special service mail.

Another objective of the present invention is to provide a method whichallows unqualified mail items to be delivered as First Class and/orspecial service mail, which method may be performed, for example, byusing the aforementioned container.

These and other objects and advantages of the present invention areachieved by providing a container for holding mail that includes aspacer. In accordance with one embodiment, the container is formed fromfirst and second flexible sheets arranged in opposing relation andcoupled to one another to form an enclosure for holding one or moreitems of mail. This mail may have an aggregate thickness less than aminimum thickness required to qualify as a First Class Mail parcel. Thespacer is attached to an inner surface of at least one of the first andsecond sheets, and has a predetermined thickness which causes the firstand second sheets of the container to expand to a thickness which equalsor exceeds the minimum thickness required to qualify as a First ClassMail parcel. The spacer may further be sized to ensure that thecontainer satisfies requirements of one or more special postal servicesprovided by the United States Postal Service, including but not limitedto the Delivery and Signature Confirmation services.

One of the sheets forming the container may have an extension whichfolds over and attaches (e.g., by an adhesive strip) to the other sheet,to thereby close the container prior to delivery. The length of theextension may be limited so that closure can occur only whennon-conforming or unqualified thicknesses of mail are inserted into thecontainer. That is, if mail items having an aggregate thickness thatmeets or exceeds the thickness required to qualify as First Class orspecial services mail is placed in the container, the length of theextension will be too short to allow the adhesive strip to attach to theother sheet.

The spacer may be in the form of a block that is substantially smallerthan each of the first and second sheets of the container. The block,for example, may be sized to fit into only a single corner of thecontainer or may have a different size, provided that at least onelateral dimension of the block is substantially shorter than acorresponding dimension of the sheets of the container. By using a blockas the spacer, the thickness of the container will equal or exceeds theminimum thickness required to qualify as a First Class Mail parcel onlyat an area where the block is located. If desired, the block may beadapted to attach to the inner surfaces of both sheets forming thecontainer. In a second embodiment, the spacer may be loosely insertedinto the container. In subsequent portions herein, the container andspacer arrangement may be referred to as a mailer.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a mailer in accordance with one embodimentof the present invention.

FIGS. 2 a and 2 b are diagrams showing different sizes of the spacerincluded in the mailer.

FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a view of the mailer container prior toassembly.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing a mailer in accordance with anotherembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing steps included in a method for deliveringitems of mail through the U.S. Postal Service, which method may bepracticed using any of the embodiments of the mailer of the presentinvention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The present invention is, in one respect, a container to be used indelivering items of mail through the U.S. Postal Service. The containermay be in the form of an envelope, package, pouch, or any otherstructure capable of holding mail and is generically referred to hereinas a mailer. The present invention is also a method for delivering itemsof mail which may be practiced using a mailer of this type. The items ofmail are preferably smaller items such as business or legal documents,papers, and letters. However, other items may also be delivered usingthe mailer. These items include but are not limited to CDs, DVDs,photographs, medicine, merchandise, or a combination of the foregoing,just to name a few.

FIG. 1 shows a mailer in accordance with a first embodiment of thepresent invention. The mailer includes a container 1 and a spacer 10.The container may be formed from first and second sheets 2 and 3arranged in opposing relation and coupled to one another to form anenclosure. The first sheet is preferably longer in length than thesecond sheet in order to accommodate an extension 4 designed to foldover and attach to the second sheet to secure the items of mail in thecontainer before mailing. The attachment may be accomplished through apeelable adhesive strip 5 located on an inner surface of the extension,or through other known techniques.

The first and second sheets are made from a flexible material such as aplastic or polymer, or even paper. The sheets may be directly connectedto one another, or one or more side (e.g., accordion) pieces may beincluded between the sheets to allow for expansion. Irrespective of thecoupling method, the sheets are arranged to form an enclosure forholding one or more items of mail, which are inserted through opening 6prior to adhering the extension to sheet 3.

The sheets may be of any size, e.g., paper, legal, or other. In onecase, the size of the container may be chosen to avoid thenon-machinable surcharge currently imposed by the U.S. Postal Service.If desired, however, the size may exceed the limits for avoiding thesurcharge.

During delivery, the container is preferably used to hold one or moreitems of mail having an aggregate thickness which is less than a minimumthickness required to qualify as a First Class Mail parcel under U.S.Postal Service guidelines. These guidelines are disclosed in theDomestic Mail Manual (DMM), which is incorporated herein by reference.Under current guidelines, the aforementioned minimum thickness isthree-quarters of an inch. However, the invention is not intended to belimited to this thickness. On the contrary, the container may bedesigned to any desired thickness in order to accommodate, for example,changes in postal guidelines regarding thickness requirements of FirstClass Mail parcels, the thickness requirements of other classes of mail,and/or the thickness requirements of special services offered by thepostal service.

Special services include, for example, Delivery Confirmation andSignature Confirmation services provided by the U.S. Postal Service. TheDelivery Confirmation service is described in DMM, Section S918,entitled “Delivery Confirmation,” the contents of which are incorporatedherein by reference. The signature confirmation service is described inDMM, Section S919, entitled “Signature Confirmation,” the contents ofwhich are also incorporated herein by reference. Both services areprovided by the U.S. Postal Service for items of mail that qualify asFirst Class Mail parcels under the postal guidelines and which alsosatisfy the requirements specified in Sections S918 and S919. Thesesections commonly require, for example, non-machinable parcels to begreater than ¾ inch at their thickest point.

In order to ensure that the mail items placed in the mailer do notexceed this thickness, the extension piece may have a length whichprevents the adhesive strip from reaching sheet 3 if, for example, adocument of greater that the guideline thickness is placed in thecontainer. Making extension 4 this length is advantageous because itwill allow sheets 2 and 3 to expand beyond this thickness, whilesimultaneously making the container unusable (e.g., unclosable) for allintents and purposes if the aggregate thickness of the mail itemsexceeds the minimum guideline thickness. If desired, however, extensionpiece 4 may be made longer so that it is able to close over and adhereto sheet 3 even when the aggregate thickness of the mail items exceedthe guideline thickness.

The spacer 10 is attached to the inner surface of at least one of thefirst and second sheets. This may be accomplished by an adhesive formedalong one surface of the spacer. If the spacer is manufacturedseparately from the container, the surface containing the adhesive maybe covered by a removable (e.g., peel-off) piece of paper. Prior tomailing, a user would then remove the paper to expose the adhesive,stick the adhesive-containing surface of the spacer on the inner surfaceof one of the sheets, and then insert the mail items to be deliveredthrough the container opening.

In terms of size, the spacer has a predetermined thickness which isintentionally designed to cause the first and second sheets of thecontainer to expand to a thickness which equals or exceeds the minimumthickness required to qualify as a First Class Mail parcel, while theextension is secured to sheet 3. The purpose of the spacer, therefore,is to allow a delivery of mail that ordinarily would not qualify asFirst Class Mail parcel to qualify as such a parcel. A user of themailer of the present invention may therefore reap the benefits of FirstClass Mail service for the delivery of small mail items. This may provebeneficial in terms of price and speed of delivery as well as for otherreasons.

In addition to the benefits of First Class Mail, the spacer may allowthe first and second sheets to expand at least at one point (e.g., thelocation of the spacer) to a container thickness which satisfies therequirements of one or more special postal services, such as but notlimited to the Delivery and/or Signature Confirmation servicespreviously mentioned. This may prove beneficial, for example, whensending legal documents (e.g., subpoenas, service of process, etc.) ortime-sensitive documents where delivery and/or signature confirmation isrequired or very desirable.

In terms of structure, the spacer may be in the shape of a block or cubehaving a thickness as described above and lateral dimensions which aresubstantially smaller than the dimensions of the first and secondsheets. FIG. 2 a shows a spacer in this shape, where the thickness, T,of the block is designed to satisfy the thickness requirements for aFirst Class Mail parcel. This may be satisfied in a variety of ways. Forexample, block 10 may have a thickness which equals or exceeds thethickness requirements, e.g., ¾-inch. In this case, the thickest pointof the container will at least be equal to the block thickness.

If mail items 30 in the container slide between the block and sheet 3(which is not adhered to the block), then the thickest point of thecontainer will equal the sum of the thickness of block 10 and thethickness of mail items 30, as shown in FIG. 2 b. In this case, theblock thickness, T₁, may be less than the minimum thickness requiredunder the guidelines to qualify for a First Class Mail parcel. This typeof block may be used when the user knows with reasonable certainty thatthe sum of T₁ and the mail item thickness will be a combined thickness,T₂, which exceeds the minimum thickness under the guidelines to qualifyas a First Class Mail parcel.

In FIGS. 2 a and 2 b, the spacer shape is intended to create a tent-likeeffect where there is only one point of the container which satisfiesthe thickness (i.e., the point where the spacer is located) under theguidelines. All other points along the package may fall below thisthickness. Nevertheless, the mailer will still qualify because theguidelines, as presently written, require only the thickest point of themailer to meet the minimum thickness requirement.

Variations of the mailer include attaching multiple spacers between thefirst and second sheets, so that more than one point exists whichcomplies with the minimum thickness requirement. Also, while a block inthe form of a cube may be easy to implement, blocks of other shapes orgeometries may be used including irregular shapes.

Whichever shape is used, it is preferable for the spacer to have a sizethat is substantially smaller than sheets 2 and 3 forming the container.For convenience purposes, the spacer size may be small enough to fitinto only a single corner of the container, as shown in FIG. 1. Forroughly 12.5 inch by 8.5 inch container size, such a spacer may be a1-inch by 1-inch by 1-inch cube. In another embodiment, the cube may bea 1-inch by 1-inch by ⅝-inch cube, where the ⅝-inch dimension is thecube thickness. While the corner is a convenient place of attachment,these types of spacers may be attached to any location within thecontainer.

Alternatively, the spacer may have one lateral dimension which is thesame or substantially similar to a corresponding dimension of thecontainer and another lateral dimension which is substantially smallerthan a corresponding dimension of the container. In terms of materials,the spacer may be formed from any one of a variety of materials,including but not limited to a polymer, styrofoam, rubber, plastic, orthe like. Polymers are beneficial because they compress under pressureand then return to their original size when the pressure is removed.Styrofoam is beneficial because it is very light in weight and thereforedoes not add substantially to postage costs.

As a further alternative, the spacer may have two opposing surfacescoated with an adhesive. Such a spacer may be attached to the innersurface of both sheets forming the container, to thereby provide furtherstability and spacer placement control.

FIG. 3 shows a view of the mailer prior to assembly. The container ofthis mailer may be made from a single piece of polymer or plastic, whereline 50 represents the fold line separating sheets 2 and 3. The width ofthe single sheet is approximately 13 inches and the length of the sheetis approximately 21 inches. With these dimensions, the fold line may bepositioned so that sheet 2 is twelve inches and sheet 3 is nine inches.Sheet 2 includes a transparent window 60 for allowing portions thecontents of the container to be visible. The visible portion preferablyincludes identifying information which may be printed on the one or moreitems of mail or a label included with the mail items. The identifyinginformation may include a delivery address, a return address, postage,or special service information, or any combination thereof. Zone X marksthe extension 4 which folds over and adheres to sheet 3 in order to sealthe mail items within the container for delivery.

FIG. 4 shows a mailer in accordance with a second embodiment of thepresent invention. This mailer (shown here in a closed state) is similarto the mailer of FIG. 1 except that the spacer 80 is loosely placedwithin the container. Without any means of attachment, the spacer istherefore permitted to freely move within the container. In order toensure that the mailer qualifies as a First Class Mail parcel, thespacer is preferably a cube with equal sides that meet or exceed theminimum the minimum thickness requirement. Thus, even when the cubemoves within the container, the thickest point of the mailer will stillbe able to qualify for First Class Mail and/or any one of the specialservices previously discussed.

FIG. 5 shows steps included in a method for delivering mail inaccordance with another embodiment of the present invention. The methodmay be performed using any of the embodiments of the mailer previouslydiscussed. In an initial step, a user places one or more items of mailin the container portion of the mailer. (Block 100). The mail items havean aggregate thickness which is less than a minimum thickness requiredto qualify as a First Class Mail parcel under U.S. Postal Serviceguidelines. This thickness may also be less than the requirements of oneor more forms of special service mailing if desired.

In a second step, a spacer is placed inside the container. The spacerhas a thickness which causes the container, at its thickest point, toequal or exceed the minimum thickness required to qualify the mailer asa First Class Mail parcel, and additionally one or more of the specialservices if desired. (Block 110). As previously discussed, spacer may beattached to one or both interior surfaces of the walls of the container,or the spacer merely may be loosely placed inside the container. Thespacer itself may have a thickness which equals or exceeds the minimumrequired thickness. Or, the spacer may have a smaller thickness which,when combined with the thickness of the mail items, causes the containerto exceed the minimum thickness.

In a third step, a label is placed inside the container so thatidentifying information on the label is visible through the window.(Block 120). The identifying information may include, for example, nameand address information of the addressee, postage, and special servicesinformation.

In a fourth step, the container is closed to secure the mail items andspacer inside the mailer for delivery. (Block 130). This may beaccomplished, for example, by pressing the adhesive strip on extension 4onto the surface of sheet 3, or by other means.

Next, arrangements are made for the U.S. Postal Service to deliver themailer to its intended destination. (Block 140). Because the thicknessof the mailer meets the minimum requirements for a First Class Mailparcel and/or special services mail, the mail items (which otherwisewould not qualify as such) will be delivered faster and with greatersecurity than it would have using conventional methods of delivery.

Other modifications and variations to the invention will be apparent tothose skilled in the art from the foregoing disclosure. Thus, while onlycertain embodiments of the invention have been specifically describedherein, it will be apparent that numerous modifications may be madethereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

1. (canceled)
 2. A mailer, comprising: a container including first andsecond flexible sheets arranged in opposing relation and coupled to oneanother to form an enclosure to hold one or more items of mail, whereinan innermost surface of at least one of the first or second sheets is incontact with the one or more items of mail and wherein outermostsurfaces of the first and second sheets form exterior surfaces of thecontainer; and at least one spacer in the container between the firstand second sheets, wherein: the one or more items of mail have anaggregate thickness less than a first thickness required to qualify as apredetermined class of mail, the at least one spacer has a secondthickness which is equal to or greater than the first thickness andwhich causes the first and second sheets of the container to separate bya distance which equals or exceeds the first thickness required toqualify as said predetermined class of mail, the at least one spacer islocated between the innermost surfaces of the first and second sheets,the at least one spacer in contact with at least one of the innermostsurfaces of the first and second sheets, a separation distance betweenthe first and second sheets at locations which do not correspond to alocation of the at least one spacer is less than the first thickness,and each of the first and second sheets is made of material differentfrom and with no intervening corrugated or bubble wrap layers.
 3. Themailer of claim 2, wherein the at least one spacer has a surfaceattached to the innermost surface of one of the first or second sheets.4. The mailer of claim 2, wherein: the at least one spacer has first andsurfaces, and the first surface of the at least one spacer is attachedto the innermost surface of the first sheet and the second surface ofthe at least one spacer is attached to the innermost surface of thesecond sheet.
 5. The mailer of claim 2, further comprising: a pluralityof spacers between the first and second sheets, wherein each of theplurality of spacers has the second thickness.
 6. The mailer of claim 2,wherein the second thickness of the spacer causes the first and secondsheets to separate by a distance which satisfies a requirement of one ormore special postal services provided by the United States PostalService.
 7. The mailer of claim 6, wherein the one or more specialservices includes a delivery confirmation service provided by the UnitedStates Postal Service.
 8. The mailer of claim 6, the one or more specialservices includes a signature confirmation service provided by theUnited States Postal Service.
 9. The mailer of claim 2, wherein thefirst sheet includes an extension for closure over an opening of thecontainer.
 10. The mailer of claim 2, wherein the at least one spacer isa foam block, the foam block compresses when pressure is applied andreturns to an original form when the pressure is removed.
 11. The mailerof claim 2, wherein the at least one spacer is sized to fit into only asingle corner of the container.
 12. The mailer of claim 2, wherein thespacer is made of a polymer.
 13. The mailer of claim 2, wherein thefirst sheet includes a transparent window for allowing identifyinginformation on the one or more items of mail to be visible.
 14. Themailer of claim 2, wherein the first and second sheets are made ofpaper.
 15. The mailer of claim 2, wherein the first and second sheetsare directly connected to one another.
 16. The mailer of claim 2,wherein the predetermined class of mail is First Class Mail.
 17. Themailer of claim 2, wherein the first and second sheets are made of apolymer.
 18. The mailer of claim 2, wherein each of the first and secondsheets are made of only one layer.
 19. The mailer of claim 2, whereinthe location of the at least one spacer is determined by a user of themailer.
 20. The mailer of claim 2, wherein the first and second sheetshave different lengths.